X marks the spot for Ed Sheeran on The Official NZ Music Charts this week, as he takes out the number one placing for both album and single.

Sheeran’s second studio album, x, and his first single from the album, Sing, claimed first place in their respective categories.

X became the UK’s fastest-selling album of 2014 last week, and Sing was Sheeran’s first number 1 in the United Kingdom.

Sheeran revealed this week the album’s artwork was only ever meant to be a placeholder as the temporary image for iTunes. But the British singer decided he liked the black X on the green background - it was simple, effective, and stood out.

The most popular New Zealand album was I Am Giant’s Science and Survival, which came in at number 2 on the Albums chart.

It knocked Whenua Patuwai’s debut album down to the number 2 spot, after the X-Fzctor runner-up dethroned Lorde last week - taking New Zealand’s favourite musical heroine to number 3.

The Kiwi rock band is currently in London, but they are heading home for their album release tour.

Ed Martin, Paul Matthews and Shelton Woolright are playing live at JB HiFi on Queen St in Auckland on Saturday at 2pm, and will be in Christchurch on Thursday.